Suggestions for scope on xp-100

[Bill Wright]

I have a fixed power Leupold scope on my Xp-100 .223.
I'm interested in changing to a higher magnification variable Leupold.
Low$$$ to medium$$$.
Any recommendations?

 

[Varminterror]

Are you looking for a handgun scope, or open to shooting a rifle scope on it? I run rifle scopes on most of my specialty pistols, which opens up a lot of doors for availability and options.

For a handgun scope, the Burris 3-12x is the only higher magnification model, AND the only Adjustable Objective model I'm aware of, both features being big advantages for specialty pistols. The extreme downsides to this scope, however, are the reticle available (a drop compensator), and the incredibly low 28MOA internal adjustment. But given a 20moa base, 28moa will get you quite a ways out there. The Leupold VX3 2-8x is another common option as a handgun scope, but it's a fixed parallax model. I use these on a handful of revolvers, for 200-300yrd shooting, they're very serviceable.

If you're open to a rifle scope, then I'm a buy once, cry once guy. I have a Sig Tango4 4-16x44 with a milling reticle on one of my XP100's in 221FB, and I'm looking to put another one on a Savage Striker 243win. Right now, the Savage is wearing a CHEAP Bushnell Trophy Extreme 4-16x44mm, which is serviceable, but is only a plex reticle, SFP, and is uber cheap... I have a NF SHV 4-14x50 F1 on a custom 700 Specialty pistol as well in 284win. I have a CHEAP Nikon Buckmaster (discontinued, but they're around) 6-18x40mm Mil-dot (midway exclusive) Side Focus on a Ruger Charger which is very serviceable as a rifle scope on a specialty pistol.

If you're stuck on a Leupold, then the Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x50mm with mil dot or TMR reticles are my go-to hunting "budget friendly" scopes. These are obviously rifle scopes, but I had one on that 284win for a while before I swapped it for the NF SHV F1, and have a half dozen others on other rifles. Very good optics.

So for a Leupold, I'd personally use the VX3i 4.5-14x50mm with a mildot or TMR, OR if you want a handgun scope with longer eye relief, the VX3 2-8x32mm, and send it in for a mil-dot reticle.

 

[cfullgraf]

Varminterror always has good advice.

When I shot IHSMA Silhouettes, iron sights were the order of the day but after I stopped shooting competition, I scoped my unlimited Contender gun. A long eye relief scope was needed when using shooting positions comparable with handgun silhouette shooting positions.

As far as what scopes to buy, I'm of the opinion better scopes yield better results. The down side is they cost more.

 

[Bill Wright]

Thank You both for the replies.
I think I may need to ask for a little education to go along with your advise.
Somehow I have it in my head that only an extended eye relief scope will work?
I have a line on a Leupold VX-R 4-12X50mm.
This is a rifle scope,would there be a mounting difference, im on the confused side.
Do you think this will work satisfactorily?

 

[Varminterror]

It takes a little acclimation to use a rifle scope on a pistol, but it's serviceable. A guy has 3 options in doing so:

1) have the scope modified by one of very few folks who do so

2) train to use the black halo around the scope picture in concentric circles to use a longer eye position than the critical eye relief. A guy can throw a closed scope cap on the eye piece, with a small diameter hole drilled in the center to help ensure no eye alignment issues.

3) get comfortable with the idea of cuddling up close to your specialty pistol. This is what I do most of the time. As I'm sure you're familiar, the XP-100 in 223 Rem really doesn't recoil much, so once you get past that initial fear, it's a lot easier than centering the black ring.

I don't have many pictures online, but here's a pic of the Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x rifle scope I use on one of my Ruger Chargers - it's very serviceable, I just cuddle up relatively similarly to the same way I tuck my left arm under my chest and against my shoulder under a precision rifle on a bipod.

 

[Bill Wright]

Thank You. That's really good advise.
I don't have any problem adjusting myself in relation to the scope,I either never considered it or didn't think it would work. The Leupold scope may come in on the "Free" side so an investment in some mounting hardware and give it a go.
Again,Thank You!
Bill Wright

 

[HamSlamma]

Wow,,,I never thought about using a rifle scope on a handgun. I don't want my face that close to a magnum caliber handgun. Why not just shoot a rifle????

 

[Gordon]

Having various XP100 formats since the 60s I would say .22-250 is about as much as I would want to shoot a rifle scope on a pistol with. The pistol on a bipod can be real handy with a rifle scope if you keep the recoil in that range.

 

[Varminterror]

Wow,,,I never thought about using a rifle scope on a handgun. I don't want my face that close to a magnum caliber handgun. Why not just shoot a rifle????

The recoil isn't as bad as a guy thinks. I've had a 338wm in a specialty pistol, a 300wsm in a mid-grip savage, and have fired a 375 JDJ Encore and a 338 Edge XP100. I'm sitting on a non-classified CZ550 .416 Rigby action which will be a specialty pistol part of its life. Just gotta add a good brake on the big boomers, and be sure to guide the pistol where it needs to go, and away from where it shouldn't, and really, it's not as bad as it seems.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I have an XP100 in 221 fireball, and it's a pussycat. Pretty accurate with irons...I have not scoped it yet, so I'm here to pay attention.